blunt cardiac injury


blunt cardiac injury

Abbreviation: BCI.
Compression of the heart and/or great vessels, e.g., during motor vehicle crashes when the patient's thorax suddenly makes forceful contact with the steering wheel or instrument panel of a car or truck. BCI also encompasses myocardial contusion (bruising of the heart muscle), aortic dissection, and myocardial rupture. Synonym: blunt cardiac traumaSee also: injury